Hudson undergoes surgery for fractured ankle

ATLANTA -- Tim Hudson underwent season-ending surgery on Friday afternoon in Atlanta to repair his deltoid ligament and fractured fibula in his right ankle, ruling the 15-year veteran out for at least four months before he can resume baseball activities.

Hudson suffered the gruesome injury in the eighth inning of Wednesday night's win in New York after Mets outfielder Eric Young Jr. stepped on the back of his right ankle as Hudson covered first base.

"He's got a fracture, he's got a dislocation, and they'll get in there and find out what kind of ligament involvement," Braves general manager Frank Wren said before Friday's game. "There's a number of things they're going to be fixing and repairing."

Hudson flew back to Atlanta with his teammates yesterday after the final game of their series against the Mets, and Wren said that he planned to visit Hudson at Piedmont Hospital after Friday night's game.

"He was in a good mood, good spirits," manager Fredi Gonzalez said. "I'm sure he was doing a lot of reflecting and that kind of stuff, but he'll be fine. He's got a good support system there with his wife Kim and his family and everyone else here in Atlanta and in Auburn."

With the surgery completed, Kim Hudson tweeted that her husband was indeed watching from the hospital as Mike Minor and the Braves shut down the Cardinals in a 4-1 victory on Friday night: "Watching/listening to Tim watch the Braves game and cheer for his teammates, heavily under the influence of pain meds, is entertaining."

Watching/listening to Tim watch the Braves game and cheer for his teammates, heavily under the influence of pain meds, is entertaining. ❤

Hudson received plenty of teammates in his hotel room the night of the injury and was given a standing ovation in Citi Field as he was carted off. Gonzalez said on Friday that he had received multiple texts from former teammates of Hudson passing along their thoughts and best wishes, and the manager planned to reconnect with the right-hander later this weekend after he fully recovers from the surgery.

"When they're doing that, I think sometimes it's better just to let him get the rest and leave him alone," Gonzalez said. "We'll touch up tomorrow or the next day, whenever our doctors say he's good to talk and give him a breather."

Eric Single is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.